Garland Roark was born on July 26, 1904, in Groesbeck, Texas, to James H. and Mona Lee Roark. He would go on to spend his life exploring the world of writing, penning a variety of novels under his own name and the pseudonym George Garland. Specifically, Roark was celebrated for his seafaring adventures, which captured the imagination of readers and critics alike.
Throughout his career, Roark held various advertising positions with stores in Texas, starting in 1924 and continuing until 1946. It was during this time that he made the bold decision to quit his job and focus on writing full-time. This move proved to be a wise one, as Roark went on to maintain a solid reputation for writing pulp-style adventure stories throughout the 1950s and 1960s.
Roark's first novel, Wake of the Red Witch, set the tone for his subsequent work. This gripping tale of sunken treasure and the unbridled greed of those searching for it - and willing to kill if necessary - was met with mixed reviews from critics. However, Hollywood saw the potential in the story and optioned the rights in 1946. Director Edward Ludwig hired screenwriters Harry Brown and Kenneth Garnet to adapt the novel, and it was eventually filmed in 1948, starring John Wayne, Gail Russell, Gig Young, and Luther Adler.
The success of Wake of the Red Witch played into the post-War desire for escapist entertainment, and Republic Studios produced the film on a budget of $1.2 million, making it the most expensive Republic Picture of the year. Only two of Roark's novels have ever been adapted into films - Fair Wind to Java, which was produced by Republic in 1953 and starred Fred MacMurray.
